IMPORTANT UPDATE: ALL WORSHIP SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED (SUNDAY AM WORSHIP AND WEDNESDAY LENTEN SERVICES)

ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jim Gonia sent a letter to church leaders yesterday strongly encouraging all churches in the Rocky Mountain Synod to immediately suspend all worship services, meetings, and any other gatherings, for a time yet to be determined due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

At different points this situation will be reassessed and hopefully at that time we will have an idea when we can resume normal worship and other activities.

Please feel free to reach out to Pastor Ron Roschke at pastor@sslu.org if you have any questions or concerns. We will post updates on this page

How do I protect myself from the novel 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory viruses?

If you are healthy:

• Good hand hygiene is the best way to keep yourself healthy. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your face with your hands and cover your cough with the inside of your elbow, not your hand.
• Get a flu shot. This does not protect against novel COVID-19 but does provide protection against the seasonal flu. It is not too late to get a flu shot.
• Stay up-to-date on other routine childhood and adult immunizations.
• Continue your normal daily routine. This means you can continue to participate in public gatherings such as work, school or social activities.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as desks, phones, doorknobs, handrails, etc.
• Institute healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, drinking adequate water and eating a healthy diet to support a responsive immune system.
• Please note that wearing a mask is not recommended at this time and we are discouraging staff and students from voluntarily wearing masks at school.

If you are sick:

• Stay home.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your face with your hands and cover your cough with the inside of your elbow, not your hand.
• Avoid close contact with healthy individuals.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as desks, phones, doorknobs, handrails, etc.

Know the facts

• The first cases of COVID-19 in Colorado were announced on Thursday, March 5.
• There are many kinds of coronaviruses, like the common cold, currently circulating in Colorado and the U.S. that cause respiratory illness. While these viruses may also be called “coronaviruses,” they are not COVID-19.
• There are also many other kinds of respiratory illnesses (such as seasonal flu) circulating right now. It is not too late to get a flu shot.
• To become sick with COVID-19, someone has to be exposed to the virus. CDC defines exposure as being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of someone with a confirmed infection for a prolonged period of time.
• Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory viruses spread. However, this type of exposure does not mean you will automatically get sick.
• Like other viruses, no community, ethnic or racial group in Colorado is more at risk for getting or spreading COVID-19.
• State and local public health officials are working together, following federal guidance, to assess Colorado travelers returning from China or other identified hot spots to determine the need for monitoring, restriction of movement, quarantine, or other action to prevent the spread of the virus.

Illness symptoms and severity

• Symptoms of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
• Any of these illnesses can be severe and require hospitalization, but most individuals recover by resting, drinking plenty of liquids, and taking pain and fever-reducing medications.
• If you are ill and concerned, contact your primary healthcare provider.